RX8Club.com - Rotor Coating?

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- - Rotor Coating? (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/rotor-coating-18481/)

Hey everyone, I've been visiting this forum for several months now, and I've learned a great deal about the rotary engine, and cars in general. This site is very informative and there are some very smart people here.

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried to apply a coating to the faces of their rotors. This is commonly done to machine tools using TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, ceramic, etc. Coating the tools provides an extra-hard layer of protection that protects them from heat and wear. This may help with cooling issue that will come up with FI, and it may help the engine to become more thermally efficient. I suppose it could be done to the inside of the housing too, but there would be issues with the apex seal rubbing against it all the time. I don't think it will affect the compression ratio too much because the coatings are only a few microns thick. This may be very impractical, but it's just a thought. Thanks in advance for any response.

I emailed a company called swaintech that does this type of coating, but they don't have any application data for rotary engines.

It took years upon years for them to figure out what materials (coatings) worked on the housings and for use in apex seals. I don't think there will be anything much better out there that already isn't/hasn't been used.

Yes there may be but very expensive. In the RX-8 Book there are some experimental Rotary Engines and one of them used ceramics extensively, coating rotors, housing, ports, etc. They had to develop a custom exhaust because the ceramics kept the spent gasses too hot for regular alloys!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by family_man

I emailed a company called swaintech that does this type of coating, but they don't have any application data for rotary engines.

That may be true for the engine, but their heat reduction coating (cuts heat loss ~50% according to their site) would seem to be just the thing for the Greddy turbo and header. I wonder the temp of the Greddy and what 50% would be?? As it is, the install used heat shield all over the place to keep the heat from cooking the oil hose and (I guess) the car in general as it is applied to the body metal around the turbo. Another benefit they discuss is that it increases HP (from saving lost heat). That 50% more heat in the pipes with the Greddy, might end up being significant HP.

Interesting stuff and not expensive (couple hundred it looks like). If I go FI, that's where my parts are going to go first http://www.swaintech.com/header.html That's awfully cheap HP! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by from their site

The theory of insulating the exhaust system to retain heat is commonly overlooked by most racers. After heat has performed its function in the combustion chamber, it travels out the exhaust port to the header. If the Gases are allowed to cool, they lose velocity and the scavenging effect is reduced. If by insulating the exhaust system, gases inside are kept at the highest possible temperature, the resulting effect is a greater exhaust gas velocity and higher efficiency. Each gas pulse moves through the pipe faster, making room for the next and pulling it along. This reduces back pressure and increases the "super-charging" effect created by the now of high velocity gases.

http://www.swaintech.com/images/trans.gifInsulated headers also reduce radiant heat and lower underhood and cockpit temperature. By reducing air intake temperature 10°F, a horsepower increase of 1% results, a 30°F drop equates to a 3% horsepower increase. This is inexpensive horsepower. http://www.swaintech.com/images/trans.gifSwain Tech engineers have developed several heat management products for use on headers and exhaust systems.

White Lightning Coating Swain Tech Thermal Barrier Coating, TBC-EX -- TBC-EX is a 3-layer .015-.020" thick permanent coating. The coating is pearl white in color and extremely durable. It reduces radient heat by more than 50%. (It is NOT Hi-Temp paint like other products.) Swain Tech Header Coating is different than All the other header coatings. It is applied as SOLID Ceramic Layers, not hi-temp paint. It is a true .015 thick Thermal Barrier. Other header coatings are .002 thick and meant for appearance and corrosion resistance. Swain Coating is Functional not Cosmetic.

I ceramic coated the exaust on my sportbike. It raised outflow exaust temps...and keeps the pipe a lot cooler by my leg.....worth the money

One thing to consider is you can cook the catalytic converter with the increased exhaust temps. You gotta consider the whole system when you make changes.
________
Michigan dispensaries

That's why you get rid of the damn stock CAT :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUR NRG

One thing to consider is you can cook the catalytic converter with the increased exhaust temps. You gotta consider the whole system when you make changes.

Always something, isn't it? I thought about that, but a HiFlow Cat that can stand CANzoomers mods would likely take the heat (e.g. Random, SR Motorsports...) and even the stock Cat would work for a while :D before one was forced to replace or remove it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domin8

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried to apply a coating to the faces of their rotors. This is commonly done to machine tools using TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, ceramic, etc.

Not sure what that would help; I thought the rotor surfaces never contact anything?